Dirk Adler and Joe Wolf plan a quiet, relaxing afternoon of beer drinking and fishing on Amston Lake. Unfortunately, they catch a body instead of a fish. Dirk decides to investigate, but in trying to keep Joe out of trouble, Dirk inadvertently becomes a suspect himself. Margot reluctantly offers suggestions and they team up to clear Dirk, uncover the motive, and find the real murderer.

When people start dying in the small town of Lebanon, CT, the FBI and CDC speculate that terrorists are testing a deadly poison. Ricin, extracted from castor beans, has no known antidote. What no one suspects is the connection of the killer or killers to Dirk Adler and Joe Wolf. When that connection proves to be personal, Dirk and Joe must protect themselves and their friends from sure death.